Portugal’s political crisis worsens, risking bailout

Portugal’s political crisis deepened today after the president rejected a plan to heal a government rift and critics accused him of igniting a “time bomb” by calling for early elections next year.

President Anibal Cavaco Silva proposed a cross-party agreement between the ruling coalition and opposition Socialists to guarantee wide support for the austerity measures needed for Portugal to exit its bailout next year, followed by elections.

The decision was a warning shot to all the leading parties and it indicates that the president does not think any of them is capable of ruling effectively until the bailout is due to finish in June 2014.

Cavaco Silva’s move prompted sharp criticism in a country that has descended into its worst economic slump since the 1970s under the weight of austerity imposed by the bailout.

“The president of the republic decided to overcome the political stalemate between the parties in the ruling coalition by adding another problem to the one that already existed,” wrote daily Publico in an editorial. “He decided to take power.”

Such accusations are not made lightly in the country that had western Europe’s longest dictatorship under Antonio Salazar.

Under Portugal’s constitution, the president has the power to dissolve parliament and call elections.